Major cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Ether remained largely unchanged on Thursday as the recent volatility in global semiconductor stocks began to show signs of easing across Asian markets.

Key Points

• Bitcoin held steady at approximately $64,100, while Ether traded near $1,905 with modest daily trading volumes.
• Samsung reported a 250-fold increase in chip profits, yet shares rose only 2% due to high investor expectations.
• SK Hynix shares fell 17% despite a 557% profit surge, highlighting a disconnect between strong earnings and market sentiment.
• Major altcoins including XRP, Solana, and Dogecoin recorded weekly losses ranging from 4% to 6%.
• BNB remains an outlier among major tokens, maintaining a marginal gain over the past seven-day period.
• Nasdaq 100 futures rose 1% following a technical correction, supported by Microsoft’s strong cloud growth and despite Meta’s weak revenue forecast.

Why it Matters

The decoupling of cryptocurrency prices from equity market turmoil suggests that recent price movements are driven by thinning liquidity rather than direct reactions to tech sector volatility. This shift indicates that crypto assets may be becoming less sensitive to the broader semiconductor and megacap stock trends that dominated market sentiment throughout July.